Marine mine.



E. SENGER & H. SAUTER.

MARINE MINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-2?. I9I5.

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E. SENGER & R. SAUTER.V

MARINE MINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-27. 1915.

1,154,272, Pandsept. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

llorne y EMIL SENGER AND RAIMUND SAUTER, 0F LONDON, ENGLAND.

MARINE MINE.

Specification of Letters Patent..

Patented sept. 21, 1.915.

Application filed February 27, 1915. Serial No. 11,019.

This invention relates to marine mines of that type which are provided with means including a soluble substance adapted under certain conditions or at a predetermined time to be dissolved and allow water to enter the mine case and cause the same to sink.

According to this invention we `prov1de an apparatus, fitted preferably into the top of the mine case, which apparatus is completely released automatically from connection with the mine after a predetermined time, leaving a hole substantially equal to the d1ameter of said apparatus through which the water has a clear entrance into the mine case, thereby destroying its buoyancy and causing 1mmediate sinking of the mine.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section through a portion of the mine casing and the apparatus in question. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevaltion showing parts of the apparatus detached; Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views, Figs. 5 and G are sectional detail views of parts shown in Figs. 1 to 4, and Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a modification.

Within a cavity of the mine case A or within an annular flange B or equivalent forming an extension thereof, there is normally retained a casing C within which is a container G charged with mercury or other corrosive fluid. The casing C and container l are closed exteriorly by means of a cover D screwed into said container and provided with an aperture closed by a plug O, through which aperture the mercury or the like may be inserted into said container. The base or other suitable part of said container is provided with a small aperture G1 adapted to register with a channel N in the casing C which communicates with a hollow plug M screwed into the casing and normally closed by a disk or diaphragm L of material (for example Zinc or other soft metal) which will amalgamate with or be dissolved by the mercury when the same comes in contact therequickly dissolve same and when this dissoluwith,so that .the mercury Acan flow from the contamer G 1nto the plug M and from the latter into a Socket or plug H carrying said diaphragm L screwed into another plug H1 mserted into a cylindrical cavity VH2 at one side of the casing, said space being closed by a screw cap F.

The passage through the aperture G1 is controlled by a pointed valve E extending through the cover D so as to be manipulated from the exterior to allow the mercury to flow from the container to the channel N when desired.

The casing C is retained in the flange B or mme cavity by means of a ring vof soft solder K, preferably melting at about 70 C., or .some other similar form of connection which will be acted on by the mercury to tion has taken place by the action of the mercury, which reaches same from the cavity H2 through a channel J in the casing, the latter and all appurtenant parts will be released as shown in Fig. 2 to allow the surrounding water to enter the cavity X and cause the mineto sink.

A joint to retain the mercury until all the solder is dissolved is provided between the casing C and flange B by means of a ring Q screwed to said flange B, which also has a small cavity P. to retain the mercury flowing through the solder until the apparatus is released.

The time during which the mine may be kept afloat after being laid is determined by the time required to dissolve the solder and by the thickness of the disk or diaphragm L which is acted on by the mercury, a longer or shorter time being required to cause amalgamation of this material with the mercury according to its thickness. As a modification for the lengthening of the possible time of flotation required, we may further provide additional cavities H2 with separate 1f soluble diaphragms of varying thickness, the mercury being admitted thereto through separate channels, each controlled from the outside of the mine by a valve which may be selected as desired before placing the mines ,11

in the water, as will be readily understood without illustration, and in addition for securing maximum length of time of flotation the mercury can be passed through all existing cavities in series by a connecting chan- 1 nel before the bulki of the mercury is admitted to the solder connection, for exam' ple, in Fig. 'T two cavities H3, H* with soluble diaphragms L1,L are shown connectedin series, one of said cavities containing a rotatable spigot O provided with two apertures O1. O2, and when the aperture Q1 coincides socket into cavity H4, from which latter itV leaves by the channel J3 to the solder connectionK, thus permitting the mine to remain aiioat for the maximum period.` VThe remaining reference characters on this figure Adesignate similar parts to those described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6.

That we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A marine mine having a Icavity therein, a device within said cavity, a soluble connection between said mine and device, and means within said device for predetermining the time of destruction of said soluble connection, whereby the device is completely released from said cavity to permit entrance of water thereinto to destroy the buoyancy of the mine.

2. A marine mine having a cavity therein, a casing extending into said cavity, a soluble connection between said casing and mine, a container within said casing containingI a solvent for said connection, means of communication between said vcontainer and the soluble connection, and means for controlling the time of passage of the solvent from the container to the connection.

3. A marine mine having a cavity therein, a casing extending into said cavity and hav` ing a channel, a soluble connection between said casing and mine, said casing adapted to contain a solvent for said connection, means for controlling the passage of solvent through said channel, and a soluble diaphragm between said channel and connection adapted to be acted on by the solvent.

4. A marine mine having a cavity therein,

a casing extending into said cavity and having a channel, a soluble connection between `the soluble connection,

said casing adapted to contain a solvent for said connection and provided with an aperture dapted to coincide with the channel in the casing, a valve for controlling the passage of solvent through said channel, a hol' tion when said diaphragm has been dissolved by said solvent.

5. A- marine mine having a cavity therein, a casing extending into said cavity, a soluble connection between said casing and mine, the casing being adapted to contain a solvent for said connection, means of communication for said solvent between the casing andv and a soluble diaphragm normally obstructing the'passage of the solvent through said means of communication.

6. A marine mine having a cavity therein, a casing extending into-said cavity, a soluble connection between said casing and mine, the casing being-adapted to contain a sol- `said casing and mine, a container within vent for said connectlon, means lo1':' communication for said solvent between the casing and the soluble connection, a plurality of soluble diaphragms normally obstructing the passage of the solvent through said' means of communication, and means whereby the solvent may be caused to act on one or more of said soluble diaphragms.V

7 A marine mine having a cavity therein, a casingextending into and adapted to ill said cavity, a soluble connection between said casing and mine, means of communication between said casing and connection, a solvent within said casing capable of destroying said connection, able means at the exterior of the mine for controlling said communication, and a detachable soluble diaphragm in said communication adapted to be acted on by .thesolvent to aiord passage thereof to the connection whereby the latter is destroyed and the casing released from the mine to admit water thereinto to destroy its buoyancy.

VIn witness whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two witnesses. Y Y

EMIL SENGER. RAIMUND SAUTER. Witnesses:

H. D. JAMESON, O. J. WORTH.

manually oper- 

